The number of foreign workers in agriculture continues to grow, despite all government declarations over the years to reduce them. In 2007, the government acceded to farmers' pleas and increased the number of work permits for foreign workers by 2,500 to over 28,000. The farmers agreed in exchange to hire an equal number Israelis by April 2008.
They didn’t.
Farmers are now asking to raise the quota of foreign workers to 44,000, an increase of over 15,000 workers.
It also now turns out that the government and the Knesset knew in advance that the farmers would not keep their promise of hiring more Israeli workers. Minutes of the October 29, 2007 meeting of the Knesset House Committee include the following statement by Israel Flower Growers Association secretary Avraham Daniel: "We'll get through April, and I tell you that everyone will hire Israelis, but they will be fictitious. They won't be genuine and it won't be real; they'll be tall tales. They'll do it because of the conditions set."
The farmers have hired Herzog Fox Neeman Law Office, and they are helped by the powerful local and regional authorities are lobbies, as well as supportive MKs, especially those who get votes from kibbutzim and moshavim. The farmers' biggest lobbyist, albeit not paid by them, is Minister of Agriculture Shalom Simhon.
When at the abovementioned House Committee meeting, then-Israel National Employment Service director general Esther Dominici noted that the government had decided to reduce the quotas for foreign workers, Simhon replied, "You're talking about a non-existent policy."
To which Dominici responded, "What do you mean, a non-existent policy? Your representatives are sitting on the committee."
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on February 5, 2009
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2009